Keys to win Saturday

[the_insider_]

1. Penn State is a second half team, so Pitt needs to take advantage of that. Pitt is notoriously not a second half team the last couple years, so grab a lead and hold on. Defense usually travels, so a halftime lead is definitely important.

2. Narduzzi usually doesn't play matchups, but I would have Jackson on Hamler and even think about Pinnock on Friermuth.

3. I watched a little bit of Buffalo PSU Saturday and Buffalo was able to run the ball, so I think Pitt OL should be able to get a push as well. Running the ball will definitely be huge in that game. It also seemed like seem passes were working and Aaron Mathews has caught a couple seems passes already this year, so that seems like a spot they could take advantage of.

4. Aaron Mathews started off the last two games involved and got early catches and then seemed to disappear for the rest of the game. I'd like to see them use him all game. Also, I listened to Peaks podcast and he noticed it looked like he was lined up in tight on formations, almost as a TE. I'd like to see him be a big part of the offense. I think he hasn't been correctly utilized so far in his career.

5. I would also like to see the offense run a little more up tempo offense. It seemed to work against UVA and then they got away from it. The defense is good enough and Narduzzi needs to trust them and let the offense be more aggressive and score.

6. Whipple. I think Whipple will exploit some things on PSU. I think he will use uptempo offense and use quick passes to alleviate PSUs pass rush. I'd also like to see them run a trick play or two. Flea flicker, etc. I saw someone post the other day about how fast PSU defense swarms the ball and how they over pursue. I also noticed that Saturday night. Hopefully, Whipple sees that and can use a reverse or two to counter it.

H2P

 

[PittFanDan17]

Great points. All things that can be prepared for its just about execution. If we can do those we will have a fighting chance. H2P

 

[Pittx9]

6. Whipple. I think Whipple will exploit some things on PSU. I think he will use uptempo offense and use quick passes to alleviate PSUs pass rush. I'd also like to see them run a trick play or two. Flea flicker, etc. I saw someone post the other day about how fast PSU defense swarms the ball and how they over pursue. I also noticed that Saturday night. Hopefully, Whipple sees that and can use a reverse or two to counter it.

I was really hoping to see something like that in the 2nd half against Ohio when it was clear our offense had gotten stuck in a rut. But, we hung on for the win so if they’re saving the tricks for PSU then no harm done.

With our line not at the level you’d like them to be so far, especially in the run game, the wildcat wasn’t all that effective. Pickett was on the field in that formation though, out wide. I hope we at least have it in the playbook where the ball gets into Pickett’s hands on a reverse out of the wildcat.

Yeah we rip on him a lot for missing open receivers, but if a guy ends up wide open on a trick play I’ll take my chances with Pickett getting the ball to him as opposed to Carter or someone like that.

 

[goalieman]

1. Penn State is a second half team, so Pitt needs to take advantage of that. Pitt is notoriously not a second half team the last couple years, so grab a lead and hold on. Defense usually travels, so a halftime lead is definitely important.

2. Narduzzi usually doesn't play matchups, but I would have Jackson on Hamler and even think about Pinnock on Friermuth.

3. I watched a little bit of Buffalo PSU Saturday and Buffalo was able to run the ball, so I think Pitt OL should be able to get a push as well. Running the ball will definitely be huge in that game. It also seemed like seem passes were working and Aaron Mathews has caught a couple seems passes already this year, so that seems like a spot they could take advantage of.

4. Aaron Mathews started off the last two games involved and got early catches and then seemed to disappear for the rest of the game. I'd like to see them use him all game. Also, I listened to Peaks podcast and he noticed it looked like he was lined up in tight on formations, almost as a TE. I'd like to see him be a big part of the offense. I think he hasn't been correctly utilized so far in his career.

5. I would also like to see the offense run a little more up tempo offense. It seemed to work against UVA and then they got away from it. The defense is good enough and Narduzzi needs to trust them and let the offense be more aggressive and score.

6. Whipple. I think Whipple will exploit some things on PSU. I think he will use uptempo offense and use quick passes to alleviate PSUs pass rush. I'd also like to see them run a trick play or two. Flea flicker, etc. I saw someone post the other day about how fast PSU defense swarms the ball and how they over pursue. I also noticed that Saturday night. Hopefully, Whipple sees that and can use a reverse or two to counter it.

H2P

Nice post ...... my keys for Pitt to win ......

1) Win the turnover battle ..... our defense does not create enough turnovers, need to get some interceptions and fumble recovers ..... teams that are +2 in turnovers for a game often win.

2) Win the battle of field position ...... the longer we make them drive to score, the less likely they are to score..... the punters may become important in field position.

3) Efficiency on 1st/2nd/3rd down plays ........ Buffalo had a lot of 3rd and manageable plays and made 1st downs ..... we really have to be successful on 1st and 2nd down to give us a good chance of converting 3rd downs into 1st downs ...... IMO, to do that our offense will need to be balanced ..... our running game will need to be better than it has been and Pickett is going to have to find and hit open receivers AND not take sacks ..... also, cut down on penalties which kill drives/efficiency !

4) Explosive plays ...... we need to make some big plays and that may require some trick plays or just making some long gains in the running and passing game.

5) Finish drives ....... when we get in PSU territory, we need to score and when we get in the red zone, we need to score TD's not FG's ..... Whipple has to figure out the plays and the team needs to execute them.

6) I'd feel a lot better if Weaver and Camp were playing but they aren't so others will have to step up on the defense ....... Buffalo had success shutting down the PSU running game which kept the game close for a half (PSU had 78 net yards for the game and the QB had a lot of those) ....... Pitt will need to stop the run, contain the QB in the pocket so he can't run, and yet get some pressure on him ..... cover Hamler, he scares me as a receiver and return man !

It's going to be tough to win this game and I don't expect we will but you never know ..... that's why you play the game ..... good luck to the Pitt team (players and coaches), do the best you can !

 

[President Stache]

Great points. All things that can be prepared for its just about execution. If we can do those we will have a fighting chance. H2P

Man, isn’t this the truth

 

[Cap pitt]

Just win baby!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kma0043]

D has played solid, but hasn’t forced a turnover yet. The law of averages say there overdue. Have to protect the football and get a couple short fields to help the offense.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

All good points.

But for me, we've already won. We aren't them and that in itself is a huge win.

 

[Pitt1992]

The only way Pitt has a chance at this game is Pitt finally learns to run the ball, and KP starts to look like a college QB and hits on the deep throw

 

[PittFamily2]

KP runs the ball when he has daylight all the time anytime.
Planned QB runs
Inside shovel passes
Stacked receivers to get so open space
Rub routes
Draw play once in a while
Counters
Direct snap to RB with KP in the shotgun

Stuff like that which might confuse Franklin who is easily confused during football games as opposed to interviews.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Entire PSU team has the flu.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

We need to put a garden hose on our field goal team and punting team for an entire day of practice just in case. I do not want to see that ever again!

 

[CJsE]

Peterman, Conor, Boyd, Donald, Maddox, and O'Neil suit up for Pitt.